North of England League Cup Qualifier    12th August 2007

Robin Park – Wigan

A trip across the Pennines offered opportunity to compete against some stiff, albeit different competition.  Unfortunately, a majority of HHS athletes displayed similarity to vintage wine by proving they do not travel well – or to be more exact, didn’t travel at all.

The result was to that we finished last (despite a valiant effort by the White H “Light Brigade”); well behind any other clubs present.

As qualification for the final was, from the offset, patently beyond contemplation, the gallant few were faced with avoiding the humiliation of not completing sufficient events to have the club’s scores recorded.  To their infinite credit, they managed it, putting aside any risk of personal embarrassment to perform in additional events to which some were not ideally suited

Highest praise goes to Alex Shorey - the only HHS woman to turn out - not only for scoring the usual crop of points in all the throws (Hammer, Discus, Javelin and Shot), but especially for recording 2.68m in the Long Jump which she conducted with a smile and a refreshing good spirit, despite being pitted against athletes who clearly jumped on a regular basis.

Praise also to:-

·         Jamie Bennett, who ran 800m; did his usual High Jump; and then ran (for the first time ever) the 5000m - in 19:21.8.  He finished last, 100m behind the penultimate runner – but without complaint, and thus ticking another event off.

·         Matt Milson, who was long-jumping within 5 minutes of arriving – having spent 1½ on public transport and a further 1½ by car to get there.  Add a triple jump, 400m, and 100m relay before another 3 hour journey home.

Considering Jamie and Matt were originally “not required” to run, their endeavours deserve special mention.

·         Todd Marshall, for his 2nd in 100m (11.2) and 1st in 200m (22.3) – just in case the North West thought HHS had no top drawer T & F athletes.

·         Adam Thomas who (on his first senior outing) didn’t content himself with the Javelin he’d come to do, but rallied a 4x100m team together, despite injuring himself in a “preparation” guest 200m.  Let’s hope he realises things are not always like this!!

·         Armand Bush for his usual competent performance, this time 2nd in the 1500m (4:07.7) – but also for taking an unfamiliar place in a 4x100m relay.

·         Craig Wolstenholme: ever present!  Without whom there would have been no 4x100m relay and the team would have been excluded.

·         George Perkins, who complemented his 41.76 Hammer throw, with fulfilling the club’s obligation to provide field officials.

·         And finally, Jay Parnaby.  Reeling from the body-blow reality of team management, he led by example, with a new discus pb of 41.04.

It would be nice to mention achievements of others, but that was the sum total of the team.  HHS should be proud of each and every one of them.

Full results at http://www.noeaa-athletics.org.uk/track/league/2007results/cup_match1_wigan.pdf

 

Steve Marshall